If you had 10,000 sq. ft. ....

[MSRTom]

What would you be sure to include when planning your layout?

A warehouse just went up for sale and I'm thinking of snatching it up. It's about 30 min. from my house, so I know one thing that I wouldn't leave out would be a security system.

This should get interesting.

 

[sasquach]

A place just to hang out. Bar / livingroom type of deal

 

[benjacobs]

That's a big garage. With that much space, I'd at least have a full shop area with 240v receptacles, a bathroom, a small kitchenette sorta thing, a place to sleep when necessary(or convenient), plenty of space for storage of odds and ends. Maybe a nice big plasma tv and sound system to go with it. Basically, a home away from home.

 

[rsanter]

I would section off an area that is about the size of a 3 car garage for use as a working bay. this would be set up with 2 working stalls. one with a lift and one without, and there would be enough room around each bay to have space for having the doors open, for toolboxes, welder, welding table, etc.
off the back of the working bay I would have a room that was about a one car size that would be the machine shop/engine building room.
both of these areas would be heated and cooled.

the remaining area would be storage of cars and parts with the pallet racks lining the walls for storage. engines on the bottom. engine parts, transmissions and other heavy stuff on the next level and everything else above that. I would also ger a small forklift to move heavy stuff and to tow non running cars

if there was room left over after I set it up I would partitions that off and rent the space. if there is an area outside that is fenced I would rent space to something like a construction/plumbing company to park their trucks. you can also rent space for storage of RVs/boats.
if this location is on a downtown area you can possable rent parking space for day use or even for one of those 'taco trucks' to setup on a corner

bob

 

[rinny_tin_tin]

What would you be sure to include when planning your layout?

A warehouse just went up for sale and I'm thinking of snatching it up. It's about 30 min. from my house, so I know one thing that I wouldn't leave out would be a security system.

This should get interesting.

I would section off about a 2000 square foot area and open up a $2 bordello

 

[Tech Guy]

First-stage with a brass pole. 2nd-big beer fridge, seating and tunes.

Security, locks and video I can help you with.

 

[MSRTom]

I think rsanter is closest to what I was envisioning. My tuning shop will be working out of it, but because of location and how I like to run things, it won't be a "Summit-type walk-in and drool" kind of place

Lots of working space, 2-2 posters, a drive on, some free floor work area, the AWD Dynojet of course.

Powdercoating area, paint booth, wood shop, and blast booth.

LOTS of pallet racks for storage, too.

sasquatch has another good point: There will be a kick it back and hang out area, probably on a higher level, maybe above the interiors room.

 

[krooser]

A small working shop... maybe 3,000 sq. ft... the rest would be storage for later projects.

 

[MSRTom]

Maybe I should add that it does sit on 2.2 acres of cleared land, in a rural area.

I don't think I'm actually going to end up with this place, since I can't move on it immediately, but it's nice to dream, right?

 

[Titus]

Electric go-cart track.

 

[MSRTom]

Electric go-cart track.

Good idea!

I was thinking about putting up a speedball field for paintball, too.

 

[v8garage]

I would spread out the 10,000 sq. ft. of stuff I have crammed into 1,000 sq. ft.

 

[bgarrett]

If I had 10,000 sq ft, the first thing I would do is fill it up.

I know its true and I know its pathetic. I have 4600 sq ft under roof now and I have a narrow trail thru it and do all my work under the carport outside. Yep, outside. Pathetic and when I have something immobile in the carport space you will see me working on something out on the grass in the rain!
I otta be whupped.

 

[tfi racing]

I like Bob's idea of generating some rental revenue.It can be a bit of a hassle,but everything has its price.Sublet about 2500 sq ft and a bit of a fenced compound,have them cover a bit of your overhead.

 

[rsanter]

OK
so now I see a bit of information that you did not include the first time around. I was approaching this from a personal shop point of view what you are running a buisness.

1) evaluate your need for space. do you need all the space or can you rent a part to another automotive buisness that will complement yours (and not compete with yours)

2) you need to evaluate how your buisness works. what catagories of work do you do and how long do cars stay there.

3) what portion of your buisness is sales and what is labor. parts sales can promote labor work and visa-versa. you need to dedicate an appropriate portion to parts storage and sales.

I had an automotive buisness that did a range of things:
basic auto repairs
restoration
streetrods
racecars
engine builds
rust repairs
parts sales
parts rebuilding (specialty parts for restorations)

we were based in an industrial complex next to 2 bodyshops
one side of the shop was the work bays (access through one big bay door. you drove in and turned into the work bays which were set at 45degrees)
the first two bays were for cars that would come in and out that day and there could be more than one car that uses that spot in that day. the next two bays were for cars that would be there for 1 day to a week sometimes two. and the last bay was for long term projects that could be there a month or two and actually took the space of two bays (additional space needed for these types of projects)
along the back wall on this side was pallet racks to store parts
on the other side of the shop we had storage of cars that were mine and were customers (valuable cars). there was the office as well as storage above the office.
this side also had a bay that was dedicated to engine swaps ( I had a guy that most of what he did was engine swaps. most were the jap used motor swaps and he generally did them at the rate of one per day)
this shop was 5000sq ft
at night we could store 3 more cars inside than we had bays (in the entry way to the bays)

the parts store was a seperate building that was only about 300sq ft

bob

 

[67pete300]

... I'd need a whole pile of money to fill it up with unfinishable car projects!

 

[JCQuick]

A hilo pad to make that commute shorter

 

[atvmech]

Ok an empty 10k square feet.....

First i would find DEAD center..

Put a cheap lawn chair in the center...

Next to that...a beer cooler full of beer..

Next to that a cheap table...

Can of snuff

Projector in the ceiling...

ONE WALL painted white with a big F-in picture on the wall...cut the lights and enjoy

 

[JMURiz]

Go-cart track around the edges with the shop in the middle (pit) section

 

[lpbf_cj428]

1000sqft machine shop
1000sqft paint and bodywork
1000sqft welding/fab shop
1000sqft working shop space
2000sqft apartment
The rest for trailer parking and indoor storage of projects and parts cars
Sell the house and move in.... Doooo it!

 

[Brad54]

You'd have to have a Man Cave. Finished on three sides, open to the shop on the 4th. TV, fridge, couple couches and/or chairs, a pool table, foosball table and dart board.
And a Murphy bed, because some times you get engrossed in a project and need a nap, and sometimes its just good to get away from the Missus for an evening.

If money is no object, one drive-on, one 2-post lift.

A "dirty room," with door: grinders, blast cabinet and small work table in there. Air lines, of course.

A nice, big fab area. Rack for raw materials, big welding/fab table, any shop equipment and/or machine tools, and your tool box. This would be the main work area.

Pallet racks would take up one whole corner, and not just along the outside walls. I'm seeing two shelves coming out into the area. You'll stash good parts, engines, rear ends and stuff on them, and you'll also have all the parts for finished projects.

How tall are the walls/ceiling? A loft or mezzanine would be a great idea.

As stated, a small kitchen-ette. Fridge, microwave, stove/oven (oven for powder coating, stove for chili on game-day), sink to do dishes and counter/cabinets. Finally, you'll need a bathroom. Don't worry about a shower: they sound nice, but I have yet to know anyone who actually uses them. They just collect dust and take up space. You can wash up as much as you need in a sink.

I'd almost say just go with a urinal, and maybe an outhouse or port-a-john out back. You use one a lot more than the other, and a toilet always seems to get really, really nasty in a shop. But that's probably not realistic.

Any unused space you could rent to friends to store boats or cars.

-Brad

 

[revlover]

Definitely would section it off and have the major of it be a home theater...

 

[brad d]

Would never do it unless it made me money... or I lived in it

 

[sberry]

Yup, there is a point it has to become practical and filling it with junk usually is a drain. I lived in my shop for 12 years, about 1200 ft of living space on 2 floors, way plenty. It was convenient having it all under one roof, my place is 6400 all heated, warm parking on drain pad. etc. I built another 8000 ft of storage and need to finish shelves but it is covered parking and keeps a lot of stuff out of the shop. Generally if it isn't a tool or I am not working on it then its out of here. I have another dorm house with another office, full basement shelves, lights that catch all the little stuff too good to toss but that I dont want clogging the shop.
I didnt have a pic there but one whole wall with hangers for wire.